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  • fogartyemer
  • Mar 16, 2023
  • 4 min read

When it comes to achieving success in any area of life, sport or business, alignment is a key ingredient. When I talk about alignment, I talk about matching your inner world (thoughts, beliefs, values and goals/desires) with your outer world (behaviours, actions and connection with others) in order to achieve a desired outcome or set of outcomes. When we are in alignment energy flows, we gain momentum because our energy and intentions are being channelled in a clear direction and we support our intentions with beliefs and thoughts that will create our external success. Without alignment our energy is scattered, our direction is unclear and we are more likely to sabotage progress because somewhere there is a blockage between our inner world and outer world stopping us moving forward.


Let me share a few reasons why alignment is the key you need to success and how in my coaching I have seen major shifts in results from simply working with the power of alignment.


1. Alignment starts with having a direction or goal that you want to achieve in your outer world. When I start a coaching journey with a new client, the first question I will always ask is “where do you want to be in 3-5 years time?” and “what is your greatest desire for what you want to achieve in that timeline?" Trying to find a direction and a clear goal for any individual or a business is often challenging but it is essential to understand where you want to go. Very often people will hold back from stating a goal for fear they won’t know how to make it happen or it may seems impossible or scary. However, there is an incredible power in just stating your goal, no matter how s


cary or obvious it may be, because the simple act of expressing a goal activates the subconscious mind (which is the part of the mind responsible for driving behaviours) and as a result it automatically starts the process of looking for opportunities to make your goal a reality. The clarity also gives you a sense of where you are going and what your version of success is.


2. Aligning your energy, resources, and attention with your purpose or overall goal helps you achieve so much more. If you know what your purpose and goal are you can channel your efforts towards the activities and tasks that will help you achieve your goals, and avoid distractions that may hinder your progress. In my work, I call your key priorities your “big rocks”, the absolute most important things for you to focus on that underpin your overall goal. If you can develop the discipline to say no to the things that don’t add any value to your work of life and say yes to what does, you will experience the power of alignment and you’ll start to experience momentum as you see changes in your results and an increase in personal power. Two of the most common blockers that stop people aligning their energy and attention with their desires ar


e 'people pleasing' or fear of saying "no' and the inability to set healthy boundaries to protect their "big rocks". With boundaries and confidence it becomes much easier to say no and let go of what isn't going to add to where you are going.


3. Alignment helps you build momentum: When you are in alignment with your goals, you are more motivated and energised to take action. You are more likely to persevere through obstacles and setbacks because you are focused on the bigger picture and you are thinking about your overall goal. Very often we are taken out of alignment because we might struggle to prioritise what matters to us. I’ve seen this over and over again with clients as old pattens sabotage existing desires. Rolling with momentum may mean you’ll achieve your goals even sooner than you originally thought because the energy is now starting to build its power and you’re creating your desires in a wh


ole new way.


4. Being in alignment can help you build stronger relationships. When you are aligned with your values and priorities, you are more likely to attract people who share those same values and priorities and you gain confidence setting boundaries with those who may not align with your values. This may mean old friends or colleagues will fall away but this process can also help you build a supportive network of like-minded individuals who can provide encouragement, advice, and help you stay accountable to your goals. The same goes for a business, sometimes people won’t align with your values anymore and so they move on, accept that and move on also. You will attract new people who resonate with your values.


5. Alignment can also help you stay grounded and centred. When you are in alignment with your purpose, you are less likely to be swayed by external pressures or distractions. You are better able to make decisions that are in line with your values, and less likely to compromise on what is important to you. This c


an help you build a sense of inner peace and fulfilment, even in the face of adversity.


There are many ways to cultivate alignment in your life, business or sport to achieve success. Here are 3-questions you can ask yourself to experience the power of alignment:

  1. What would I love to achieve in the next 3-5 years?

  2. What matters to me most? What are my personal values?

  3. What type of people can I surround myself with that will share my goals and values and help me stay accountable to my goal or vision?

In conclusion, the power of alignment lies in its ability to help you achieve your goals, build momentum, and create meaningful relationships, all key aspects of optimum performance. By cultivating alignment in your life, sport or work you can stay focused on what matters most, build a supportive network of like-minded individuals, and create a sense of inner peace and fulfilment. Whether you are pursuing personal or professional goals, alignment is a powerful tool that can help you achieve extraordinary results.



Updated: Jan 15, 2023

Over the past six months I have been working with a unique organisation in the Research & Development space called Exergyn. Led by CEO Kevin O’Toole, Exergyn has a clear mission and purpose to create a cleaner world by significantly reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging its world-class expertise in Shape Memory Alloy (SMA).

When I started working with Exergyn, I knew they had a unique culture and a magic that was both intriguing and special. They reached out as they needed help uncovering and understanding what made them different. Like many organisations, they had a set of values but they weren’t really known or embraced by the employees as much as they would like. As they were growing and beginning to scale they knew they needed to have a culture that was the glue for their employees in multiple locations.

"In the past we have had values in place that were either not widely known, or not commonly referenced. As such, these offered no advantage to us as a growing organisation. Since Emer's arrival and the refresh in thinking that she has brought, there has been a noticeable shift in behaviours across the breadth of the company towards culture and values" ~CEO Exergyn, Kevin O'Toole

Alongside the exceptional HR specialist Pamela Kavanagh, I had the privilege of working with Exergyn to uncover the magic of their culture, to unveil a set of values that ignited a spark in their people and to embed the values from leadership level all the way down to project and team level.

On a personal level Kevin has said "Emer has provided me with a framework to link culture and values to my everyday work as CEO. This perspective has helped me view the organization through a different lens which has provided me with new tools to tackle everyday issues. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey with Emer and discovering new areas of applicability and tools to help drive the company forward."

Through a blend of creative and dynamic workshops, 1-1 performance coaching and leadership coaching, we have aligned the Exergyn team across Ireland, the UK and the Czech Republic with their culture and we continue to enhance the collective performance through the values. The values are so much more than a 'nice to have' if they are embraced and truly mean something to your people. They are anchors for ‘how’ your people perform together and how they approach their work. From uncovering a set of values to embedding these values in leadership practices and team performance, this Exergyn team embraced it's values of Solid, Bold, Focused and One and have taken something that at first was 'fluffy' and turned it into a tool that has directly impacted performance.


If you have a set of values buried in a folder in HR that you are not sure what to do with. Or if you know you're part of or leading something special but you're not quite sure what it is, please don't hesitate to reach out and I can help you uncover your magic and see how your values can drive high-performance. You can DM me on LinkedIn or pop me an email on fogartyemer1@gmail.com.


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